Entering the House of the Lord

Happy February everyone! :)

This morning, I woke up a whole hour and forty minutes before I needed to be up. What better time than that to dive into the scriptures and catch up on what I haven't read this past week. It's amazing how easily it is to forget to read your scriptures... yet so easy to remember to read them as soon as you wake up. I'm so glad that thought always enters my mind when I wake up.

This morning, the only scripture that stuck out to me, as there were many, but this one just added to what's been on my mind these past few days is 2 Nephi 12:3.

"And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths; for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem."

Isn't that so wonderful? I mean really. That's what happens when we attend the Temple. We learn of God. We learn of his ways, his teachings, what he wants us to do in this life, and then we will walk that path doing absolutely everything we can to remain faithful to him, so we can, one day, return to him forever. The Temple is a wonderful place to receive answers. It is the holiest place on this entire earth. I am so grateful to be surrounded by so many of these gorgeous Temples. To be blessed enough, and worthy enough to enter in and do the work of the Lord for those who have passed on, and one day, enter for myself :)

That is my biggest desire right now, and I'm really having a hard time not thinking about it. Entering the Temple is literally all I think about. Sometimes I wonder if I'm just wanting to enter in because everyone else has, or I'm still the only 20 year old girl who sits next to the 12 year olds doing baptisms; and getting asked if I'm endowed every time I go. It's a bit rough but I have to remind myself this is still amazing work, and for any other work in the Temple to be done, baptism must come first. It's really special. The Temple is such a humbling place, it makes me forget my complaint of not having been endowed when I go.

I know what is inside the Temple. I know what awaits me. But.... do you want to know the BEST thing about the temple?

It will ALWAYS be there.

The temple isn't going anywhere. The temple is eternity. The blessings which are inside, still await me and always will until I make it through. It will still be amazing, it will still be wonderful and spiritual and prolly the best experience of my life. And maybe the time for me to go isn't right now, or maybe it is. Whichever, the Temple will always be there for me, no matter how long it takes for me to enter in, readily making sacred covenants with my Father in Heaven.

So, to satisfy my current desire while I pray about it daily, I'm currently reading a book called Prepare Now for the Temple by Brittany Mangus. It really is one of the best books I could possibly read. She wrote it for sisters who are getting married or going on a mission, but still says this book is good to read if you're not doing either. She starts off the book by pointing out our desire to enter the Temple. Do we truly know the work we are doing? Are we truly prepared to enter in? It's just amazing and I'm grateful for this book.

So while I wait for my answer of when I can enter in, I will continue to enter, and do the work of baptism and know in my heart that no matter what I'm doing in the Temple, at least I'm at the Temple. It is where the Spirit dwells and I can receive answers to my prayers. I know these Temples to be the house of the Lord, and for those of you who are endowed, please continue to enter in his house. You will blessed immensely. It is the one place for escape from this world. I say this in his sacred name, Amen.